Khalida, who is also known as Rubina Chandio, did not die quietly. People said she was guilty, brought her in front of a village jirga, and then killed her in front of witnesses who didn't say anything. In the village of Batto Chandio, near Tando Masti in Sindh, her life was cut short by a few minutes of accusation and judgment. Police say that her mother's brother shot her dead after she was found guilty in the name of so-called family honor. The murder was filmed and later shared online, making it public proof of a system that still sees women as disposable.

Later, police arrested a number of suspects, including men who were said to have been part of the jirga that supposedly approved her death. Police said that the murder was done as part of the long-standing tribal practice of karo-kari, which is a type of so-called honor killing in which just a hint of guilt can lead to death. Not only is the violence in Khalida's case disturbing, but so is the fact that so many people accept it. People knew about her death. It happened in front of a crowd, which shows how common these kinds of crimes still are in some places.

Khalida's story is not the only sad one. Women in Pakistan are still punished for choices, accusations, or rumors that are thought to bring shame to their families.

Justice will always be selective as long as people think that a woman's life is tied to her family's reputation. Khalida's murder shouldn't be just another news story. It should be seen as a painful reminder that staying quiet can also be a way to be complicit.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)